In Memory Of
Barbara Jean Wilson
1945
2024
Barbara Jean Wilson
July 19, 1945 — April 15, 2024
Barbara Jean (Grisbee) Wilson lost her battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia on Monday afternoon, April 15, 2024 in Cheyenne. She is survived by her brother, Steve Grisbee, her children, Angela Wilson (Aaron Johnston), Wayne Wilson (Pam) and Wyatt Wilson (Tara), of Cheyenne, as well as 6 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild with one more on the way, along with, nieces and nephews and several cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, John Grisbee, mother, Dora (Grisbee, Lemaster) Bowles, and youngest brother, Gregory Lemaster.
Barb was born in Deadwood, SD, July 19, 1945 and raised in Cheyenne, WY. Her first love being a 2-year-old filly she raised and trained and named Angel. In her usual style, bucking the western Quarter-horse mania, Barb and her beautiful, quick little half-Arabian took many ribbons and trophies in local gymkhanas and competitions. Angel, Barb, her mom, and brothers, were founding members of the Cheyenne Saddle Tramps, lifelong friends of John and Maxine Easterwood. And, in true Frontier Days, western heritage celebration style of the Wild West and the history of Cheyenne, in those days a Tent City was set up in Holiday Park for a month each year. There were shops and a blacksmith and even a saloon, where Barb’s then-husband, Marvin Wilson, tended bar and was a member of the Gunslingers group of the day, who put on a daily show or two—Barb and Angel were the only team that could give a convincing performance as the “bandit that was shot off her horse,” without injury or incident. These things prepared her well for her time at the USPS as a rural letter carrier, a Real Estate agent, and for the trials and tribulations of being a single mother raising 3 kids and, later, for her fight against cancer.
When asked, “what do you think should be included in her obituary”? All of her family answered, “you have to say how big hearted she was” and “how tough she was”. Here is a story that says just that.
After undergoing a knee replacement, hip replacement, and beating ovarian cancer, Barb was told she had a heart arrhythmia, which was later diagnosed as a bad mitral valve. It was decided that she was a good candidate for a fairly new procedure called a Mitral Clip, that avoids open heart surgery by scoping in through an artery and installing a clip on the valve to restore proper operation. But, once inside, the doctor discovered there was just too much calcification and the clip would not work, it would have to be open-heart surgery. One week later. She kept a stiff upper lip facing the ordeal before her with that constitution of hers— of which she had enough for 2 or 3 people. She was prepped and ready for surgery, they wheeled her away to the OR. The doctor had explained to Wayne and Wyatt, her sons, that the procedure should take about 4 to 4-1/2 hours. 6 hours later… the OR nurse came in the waiting room, telling them that mom was doing well, and that there had been more calcium build-up than they originally thought. It would be just another hour or so. 2-1/2 hours later …her surgeon came into the waiting room, obviously exhausted, beads of perspiration still on his brow and neck, and sat down next to them, and said, “the surgery was successful, she has a new pig
valve and is recovering on the next floor up”. As the doc was leaving, he turned and said, “8-1/2 hours on the table and not a single problem, that is one tough little lady”. Now, due to the longer duration of the surgery, the hospital staff said she won’t come out of the anesthesia until the next day.
When her sons visited as she was waking up, there was some disorientation, but the staff said she would continue to become more alert after little while — bear in mind she was still intubated and on a breathing machine, she could not talk. They asked questions and she was able to answer by blinking once for no and twice for yes. After a lot of blinking and frustration she began moving her hand in little circles and kind of waving it around. Wayne realized she wanted a pen and paper. Unable to move or see very much, her penmanship was barely more than scribbles. With more blinking, frustration and some serious deciphering, her sons were able to make out what she wrote… “how are you two holding up?” Let that sink in.
Lying there in a hospital bed, tubes coming out of everywhere, a machine still breathing for her, sternum sewn together with titanium thread, having undergone tremendous trauma on the OR table for 8-1/2 hours…her chief concern was… the wellbeing of her sons! That was a sight. Two burley-looking, bearded, grown men standing at her side, smiling and crying, the sudden realization that, in every sense of the word, she was…and will always be…a loving, caring, devoted and amazing mom.
Open heart surgery was just a speed bump. About a year later, during a routine blood test, they discovered markers for leukemia. At the hospital it was discovered, the disease was advancing quickly and she was rushed to Anschutz Medical and Cancer facility in Denver. Diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, which is one of the most aggressive leukemias, she was there and under treatment for 27 days, where she recovered mostly, then transferred to a rehab center for another 20 days. She finally got to go home after being away for 47 days. She continued chemo treatments every 4 weeks for 6 months and was in remission, no sign of the cancer (just that awful chemo, as she would say). She was able to reduce the infusions to 6-week intervals and take a 3 month break for the holidays, because the treatments made her feel so terrible. The cancer was in remission for almost 2 years when the treatments quit working, and any other treatments available would have been too harsh for her. She decided she wanted to go home, where her family took turns staying with her and caring for her. She faced each day with that unwavering constitution, good humor, and unbelievable strength. The pain became enormous and she never broke. She passed away peacefully in her sleep with her loved ones there… The entire family would like to extend special thanks to Angela and Aaron who did so much to make it possible for her to be at home.
Graveside service will be held Monday April 22nd, 2024 - 1:00 pm at Lakeview Cemetery with Celebration of life to follow at The Cheyenne Shrine Club, 224 E Iowa St. Cheyenne, WY 82009
Refreshments will be provided.
Barb was born in Deadwood, SD, July 19, 1945 and raised in Cheyenne, WY. Her first love being a 2-year-old filly she raised and trained and named Angel. In her usual style, bucking the western Quarter-horse mania, Barb and her beautiful, quick little half-Arabian took many ribbons and trophies in local gymkhanas and competitions. Angel, Barb, her mom, and brothers, were founding members of the Cheyenne Saddle Tramps, lifelong friends of John and Maxine Easterwood. And, in true Frontier Days, western heritage celebration style of the Wild West and the history of Cheyenne, in those days a Tent City was set up in Holiday Park for a month each year. There were shops and a blacksmith and even a saloon, where Barb’s then-husband, Marvin Wilson, tended bar and was a member of the Gunslingers group of the day, who put on a daily show or two—Barb and Angel were the only team that could give a convincing performance as the “bandit that was shot off her horse,” without injury or incident. These things prepared her well for her time at the USPS as a rural letter carrier, a Real Estate agent, and for the trials and tribulations of being a single mother raising 3 kids and, later, for her fight against cancer.
When asked, “what do you think should be included in her obituary”? All of her family answered, “you have to say how big hearted she was” and “how tough she was”. Here is a story that says just that.
After undergoing a knee replacement, hip replacement, and beating ovarian cancer, Barb was told she had a heart arrhythmia, which was later diagnosed as a bad mitral valve. It was decided that she was a good candidate for a fairly new procedure called a Mitral Clip, that avoids open heart surgery by scoping in through an artery and installing a clip on the valve to restore proper operation. But, once inside, the doctor discovered there was just too much calcification and the clip would not work, it would have to be open-heart surgery. One week later. She kept a stiff upper lip facing the ordeal before her with that constitution of hers— of which she had enough for 2 or 3 people. She was prepped and ready for surgery, they wheeled her away to the OR. The doctor had explained to Wayne and Wyatt, her sons, that the procedure should take about 4 to 4-1/2 hours. 6 hours later… the OR nurse came in the waiting room, telling them that mom was doing well, and that there had been more calcium build-up than they originally thought. It would be just another hour or so. 2-1/2 hours later …her surgeon came into the waiting room, obviously exhausted, beads of perspiration still on his brow and neck, and sat down next to them, and said, “the surgery was successful, she has a new pig
valve and is recovering on the next floor up”. As the doc was leaving, he turned and said, “8-1/2 hours on the table and not a single problem, that is one tough little lady”. Now, due to the longer duration of the surgery, the hospital staff said she won’t come out of the anesthesia until the next day.
When her sons visited as she was waking up, there was some disorientation, but the staff said she would continue to become more alert after little while — bear in mind she was still intubated and on a breathing machine, she could not talk. They asked questions and she was able to answer by blinking once for no and twice for yes. After a lot of blinking and frustration she began moving her hand in little circles and kind of waving it around. Wayne realized she wanted a pen and paper. Unable to move or see very much, her penmanship was barely more than scribbles. With more blinking, frustration and some serious deciphering, her sons were able to make out what she wrote… “how are you two holding up?” Let that sink in.
Lying there in a hospital bed, tubes coming out of everywhere, a machine still breathing for her, sternum sewn together with titanium thread, having undergone tremendous trauma on the OR table for 8-1/2 hours…her chief concern was… the wellbeing of her sons! That was a sight. Two burley-looking, bearded, grown men standing at her side, smiling and crying, the sudden realization that, in every sense of the word, she was…and will always be…a loving, caring, devoted and amazing mom.
Open heart surgery was just a speed bump. About a year later, during a routine blood test, they discovered markers for leukemia. At the hospital it was discovered, the disease was advancing quickly and she was rushed to Anschutz Medical and Cancer facility in Denver. Diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, which is one of the most aggressive leukemias, she was there and under treatment for 27 days, where she recovered mostly, then transferred to a rehab center for another 20 days. She finally got to go home after being away for 47 days. She continued chemo treatments every 4 weeks for 6 months and was in remission, no sign of the cancer (just that awful chemo, as she would say). She was able to reduce the infusions to 6-week intervals and take a 3 month break for the holidays, because the treatments made her feel so terrible. The cancer was in remission for almost 2 years when the treatments quit working, and any other treatments available would have been too harsh for her. She decided she wanted to go home, where her family took turns staying with her and caring for her. She faced each day with that unwavering constitution, good humor, and unbelievable strength. The pain became enormous and she never broke. She passed away peacefully in her sleep with her loved ones there… The entire family would like to extend special thanks to Angela and Aaron who did so much to make it possible for her to be at home.
Graveside service will be held Monday April 22nd, 2024 - 1:00 pm at Lakeview Cemetery with Celebration of life to follow at The Cheyenne Shrine Club, 224 E Iowa St. Cheyenne, WY 82009
Refreshments will be provided.
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